Lobamba
Lobamba Is The Spiritual And Legislative Capital Of The Country. The Queen Mother’s Village Is Situated Here. The National Museum, Concentrating On Swazi Culture And Tradi¬tions, And The House Of Parliament May Be Visited.
The Country’s Two Most Important Ceremonies Are The Ncwala And Umhlanga, Both Of Which Take Place At The Ludzidzini Royal Residence.
The Most Important Of The Two Ceremonies Is The Ncwala Or First Fruit Ceremony, Usually Held In December And Janu¬ary; Its Exact Date Depends On The Phases Of The Moon As Analyzed By Swazi Astrologers. The Ncwala Symbolizes The Religious Spirit Identifying The Swazi People With Their King. The Ncwala Is Spread Over About A Three-Week Period And Involves The Entire Swazi Nation.
The Famous Week-Long Umhlanga (Reed Dance), Is A Colorful Ceremony In Which Hundreds Of Swazi Maidens Gather Reeds And March With Them To The Royal Residence At Ludzidzini Where The Reeds Are Used To Repair The Windbreakers Around The Residence Of The Queen Mother, Indlovukazi. The Umhlanga Occurs In Late August/Early September.